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Global Defence review profiles Romtehnica, the Romanian state-owned company responsible for the import and export of defence equipment.

Romtehnica has a long track record in the international defence business, and has established a reputation as one of the largest and most well-known Romanian foreign-trade firms.

Dragos Stoenescu, head of Romtehnica's marketing department, says: "The company works under the authority of the Romanian Ministry of National Defence and is co-ordinated by the procurement department.

"As a foreign-trade agency our main activity comprises imports for the procurement department, including commercial activity, financing of procurement programmes, and the export of weapons and combat equipment manufactured by the national defence industry. "Our main effort is in weapon and combat equipment trading. Romtehnica imports the most modern weapons and ammunition systems, meteorological equipment, communications equipment, radio location - NATO radar - systems and navigation equipment. We also import items for other Romanian government institutions. A vital element is the export of goods manufactured by the Romanian defence industry, such as infantry and artillery weapons and ammunition, powders and explosives, attack aircraft, river and marine boats, optical equipment, nuclear, biological and chemical protective equipment and simulators."

Competence and professionalism


The IAR-330L Puma with SOCAT weapons system

"Romtehnica also offers extra services such as technical assistance for complex defence systems, upgrade programmes, technology transfer, maintenance, overhaul and repairs, training and supervision, spare-parts deliveries, management for defence projects, consultancy and marketing services," says Stoenescu. "We have proved our competence and professionalism in concluding and carrying out contracts with defence products and in offering a complete service. Based on our long experience, we are among the top companies working in the international weapons market and have a good reputation on the financial market."

A general director controls the day-to-day activities of the company, reporting to a board of directors. Its commerce department has sales, procurement and programme, international transport, prices policy and marketing divisions. The finance department looks after accounting development and investment, import and export financing.

Products

A major part of the company's work involves the export of upgraded equipment used by the Romanian armed forces that is based on 21 acquisition programmes co-ordinated by the Romanian Ministry of National Defence. These include a range of products, one of which is the TR-85 main battle tank that features upgraded manoeuvrability, reliability, increased fire power and improved protection. Another is the IAR-99 SOIM lead-in jet trainer that allows trainee pilots to progress seamlessly to MiG fighters because of the high degree of avionics commonality.

The MiG-21 Lancer is a programme to upgrade the Soviet fighter to provide a superior performance to the F-4 Phantom II, the F-5 Tiger, Mirage III and A-4 Skyhawk-class combat aircraft. As part of the upgrade programme, improvements have been made to its radar to allow for simultaneous, quick and accurate acquisition of several air and ground targets. It can also employ a wide range of high precision weapons from western and Russian sources. A new cockpit design improves the man-machine interface, reducing pilot workload to allow quick and effortless activation of the main controls and weapon systems. Defence aid systems protect the aircraft in hostile environments.

The IAR-330L Puma helicopter features SOCAT weapons systems that turn the transport helicopter into a combat machine capable of attack and escort missions.

At the core of its upgrade work, the company has an on-going research and development programme. "In modern research institutes, our company develops products of competitive quality," says Stoenescu. "These include optical fibres, devices for tele-detection, laser instrumentation, radio mini-transmitters with open and cover modulation, encoding special systems for radio-TV broadcasts and special devices for detection." New products offered for export include 9mm Parabellum submachine guns, 122mm single-barrel rocket launchers, 4x4 armoured personnel carriers and 60mm mortars.

International marketing
"Romtehnica always attends the main international military equipment exhibitions and is considered a traditional participant," says Stoenescu. "In international markets we represent all the Romanian plants producing infantry weapons, anti-aircraft machine guns, anti-tank launchers, mortars, artillery weapons, all types of ammunition for the above equipment, land mines, armoured vehicles, tanks, helicopters, spare parts, military explosives and propellants.

"The cornerstone of our commercial policy is confidentiality, so a valued partner is a partner forever," he says. "Romtehnica's goods have found confirmation of their performance and quality in many countries in Europe, south and north America, Africa and Asia. The performance of Romtehnica is ensured by its staff who are experts in engineering and foreign trade. We carry out our activities according to internationally-recognised regulations on import and export of armaments.

"Our strong points are high quality, competitive prices, and short and prompt delivery time. We think these are good reasons for customers to contact us."